N11BE

On September 21, 2004, at approximately 1300 mountain daylight time, a Smith Aerostar 601P, N11BE, operated by Campground Brokers Inc., was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff roll at Lordsburg Municipal Airport, Lordsburg (LSB), New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The business flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The private pilot reported no injuries. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Phoenix, Arizona.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, during take off roll from runway 12, the airplane "veered 30 degrees to the right, departed the runway, and came to rest a couple of hundred yards away in sagebrush." Both landing gear folded, both propellers were damaged and the right wing spar was bent. The pilot stated that prior to the take-off roll, he observed the wind sock "hanging down indicating a no-wind situation." The winds at Grant County Airport, 33 miles northeast of LSB were reported as 250 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 17 knots. According to a witness, the airplane got caught in a whirlwind. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies.